Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT230
2009-03-24 17:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

MOROCCO: FIRST QUARTER 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KISL IR MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHRB #0230/01 0831743
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241743Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9822
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0916
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1125
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000230 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL/IRF AND DRL/NESCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KISL IR MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: FIRST QUARTER 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE

REF: A. RABAT 0205

B. RABAT 0200

C. RABAT 0196

D. CASABLANCA 0047

E. RABAT 0212

F. 08 RABAT 0623

G. 08 RABAT 0493

H. 08 RABAT 0570

I. RABAT 0201

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000230

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL/IRF AND DRL/NESCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KISL IR MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: FIRST QUARTER 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE

REF: A. RABAT 0205

B. RABAT 0200

C. RABAT 0196

D. CASABLANCA 0047

E. RABAT 0212

F. 08 RABAT 0623

G. 08 RABAT 0493

H. 08 RABAT 0570

I. RABAT 0201

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The first quarter of 2009 has seen several
incidents of concern in the Moroccan human rights arena. The
most significant of these is a late March pressure campaign
against Morocco's Shi,a minority, linked to the Government
of Morocco's (GOM,s) angry severing of diplomatic relations
with Iran. This flare up was accompanied by a similar
campaign against homosexuals. At the same time, the
(opposition) Party of Justice and Development (PJD),
Morocco's largest Islamic political party, has come under
subtle pressure in advance of June local elections. The
issue of police abuses in Western Sahara appears to have
worsened slightly. Two cases involving the arrest of
anti-corruption activists are troubling for their freedom of
speech implications. Other incidents in the press realm
appear to be less a result of policy decisions than isolated
actions by mid-level security officials. Overall, national
debate remains generally unhindered and vigorous. However,
we strongly recommend the Department vigorously engage on
these issues, and Embassy plans to do the same. End Summary.

--------------
Religious and Cultural Turbulence
--------------


2. (C) On March 6, the GOM announced a severing of relations
with Iran, ostensibly over Iranian statements on Bahraini
sovereignty and other criticisms of Morocco (Refs A-C). On
March 18, the media reported that the Government launched an
officially sanctioned pressure campaign against Shi,a in
Morocco, seizing Shi,ite tracts from bookstores and
libraries, and mobilizing imams to preach against Shi,ite
influences. A variety of sources indicate that individuals
known or suspected of being Shi,a adherents are also being
questioned in police stations about their connections to Iran

(Ref D). On March 22, the Ministry of Education shut down a
private Iraqi school, belonging to the Iraqi Islamist D'Awah
Party, catering to Iraqi emigres. The sudden closure came
after allegations that the school was teaching Shi,ite
principles, a charge the principal denies.


3. (C) Homosexual rights remains a wedge issue. Sparked by
a publicity campaign initiated by a gay rights organization
called Kif Kif, a series of arrests of gay men culminated in
a statement by the Ministry of Interior on March 23
underscoring homosexuality's illegality in Morocco and its
contravention of religious and cultural norms. Ahmed
Arehmouch, the lawyer for 17 homosexual defendants arrested
in the City of Meknes, told EmbOffs that he believes the
surge in activity results from the GOM's desire to neutralize
possible rallying points for conservative oppositional
religious elements. Septel will cover this issue more
extensively.

-------------- ---
An EU Visit and a Spike in Western Sahara Abuses
-------------- ---


4. (C) On January 26 and 27, after a three-year delay
resulting from somewhat contentious discussion with (and
obstructionism on the part of) the GOM, a delegation of
European Union parliamentarians visited Laayoune and Tindouf.
They met with both government officials and a wide variety
of civil society organizations, both pro-Morocco and
pro-independence. Although the delegation was able to meet
with all organizations and individuals they desired, there
was a heavy police presence around the hotel in which the
delegation met. Activists also gave credible reports of
harassment on the way to and from sessions with the
delegation as well as for days before and after. The draft
report, which was leaked in its entirety to Spanish newspaper
El Pais, highlighted three key areas of concern: Continuing
restrictions of freedom of expression and association in
Moroccan controlled territory and specifically the GOM's
continuing refusal to register human rights organizations
that are not pro-Morocco; the living conditions and people in
the Tindouf camps; and the continuing issue of "unaccounted
disappeared" on both sides of the berm. Among the
recommendations, the delegation proposed expanding MINURSO's
mandate to include a human rights monitoring component.


5. (C) Embassy saw an early and sharp spike in the number of
credible reports of abuses and reprisals it received from
human rights contacts in the Western Sahara. This coincided
with both the visit of the EU delegation and the late-January
departure of reformist Wali (Territorial Administrator)
Mohammed Dryef, who was widely credited with improving
security force behavior. Allegations include the short-term
detention and questioning of several activists who met with a
visiting delegation of European Parliament members. Among
others, Badr Al Din El Houassi alleged physical abuse and
said that police stripped him naked and released him outside
city limits after interrogation. Activist Hassan Dah alleged
the same treatment the following day.


6. (C) The Association of Human Rights Abuse Victims (French
acronym ASVDH) passed on the testimony of Hayat Rgaibi, a
seventeen-year old activist. She described a similar
incident on February 23 in which she was blindfolded, beaten,
stripped, anally raped with a baton and sexually abused in
other ways while being questioned about her and her family
members' activities. The GOM publicly, and privately to
PolOff, vehemently denied Rgaibi's accusations. Ministry of
Justice contacts informed PolOff that they have opened an
investigation. Charge and PolCouns bluntly raised the
increased abuses with the Foreign Minister (Ref E) on March
17, and we have also expressed direct concern to the MOI.
Whether there is a linkage or not, the reports of abuses
appear to have dropped dramatically since our demarches.


7. (C) The following officers of the Judicial Police
(national investigative police force akin to the FBI) were
named as abusers in the testimonies: Mohammed Al Hasoni (AKA
Al Mostach or the moustache) and Abdel Aziz Anouche (AKA
Touhima or birthmark). They have appeared in several
previous reports of abuses and Embassy requests their names
be placed in the Department's database of Leahy Amendment
violators. (Note: Their names have been added to embassy,s
database. End note.)

--------------
Some Media Hiccups
--------------


8. (C) The long delayed and controversial incitement case of
former Al Jazeera bureau chief Hassan Rachidi (Ref F and G)
was delayed three times in the first three months of 2009.
In 2008, Rachidi had his credentials revoked and was charged
with knowingly publishing false information related to riots
in the town of Sidi Ifni in 2008 (Ref H). The GOM
subsequently revoked Al Jazeera's license to broadcast a
nightly newscast live from Morocco, although Al Jazeera
continued to report from Morocco. On January 17, the
Ministry of Communications accredited Palestinian Abdelkader
Kharroubu as Al Jazeera's new Rabat bureau chief. Meanwhile
Rachidi, a Moroccan, was allowed to resettle in Qatar to take
a job at Al Jazeera headquarters.


9. (C) On February 6, media reported that Boutayeb Al Hanun,
Editor-in-chief of left-of-center Arabic-language daily Al
Bayane Al Youm, was held by the Caid (local MOI official) of
Ain Harruda in Casablanca. The Caid detained Al Hanun,
confiscated his mobile phone and held him for three hours
without charge. In a positive response, two days after the
incident, the MOI dismissed the Caid from his position for
overstepping his authority.


10. (C) During the week of February 7, police searched the
offices of Arabic-language weekly Al Ayyam. The Moroccan
press reported that the police raided the offices, and
detained and questioned publisher Nourredine Miftah and his
editor-in-chief, Maria Moukrim, after the newspaper contacted
the royal palace seeking authorization to print a story on
King Mohammed VI's mother. The story was to include a photo
of her reportedly dating to the 1970s, supposedly secured in
2005 from the royal family's former doctor. Miftah resigned
as Secretary General of the Moroccan Federation of Publishers
(FMEJ),saying, "It would be foolish to take part in an
organization partnering with government authorities (when)
those same authorities prevent the development of a climate
of confidence." FMEJ rejected his resignation.

-------------- -
Governmental Thin Skin around Narco-Corruption
-------------- -


11. (C) There were two high-profile arrests related to
activists who were outspoken in their condemnation of what
they said was local officials' complicity in narcotics
smuggling and corruption in northern Morocco. On February
16, outspoken anti-corruption campaigner and Berber activist
Chakib El Khiari was summoned to Judicial Police headquarters
in Casablanca for questioning about his activities. He
returned to his home in Tetouan (470 miles away from
Casablanca) on February 17, accompanied by 10 investigators,
who searched his home, confiscated files and a computer and
arrested El Khiari. He was subsequently charged with
"defaming the state." A week prior to his arrest, El Khiari
participated in narcotics conferences in Barcelona, Brussels
and The Hague where he raised the issue of Moroccan
narco-corruption in meetings and in media interviews. NGO
colleagues of El Khiarai's tell PolOff that he has been
denied the right to use a telephone in prison and that his
lawyers have not been able to review police evidence against
him. He remains in pre-trial detention as of March 23.


12. (C) Authorities have quashed protests in support of El
Khiari in Tetouan by denying permits and quickly dispersing
demonstrations. In a slightly bizarre twist, El Khiari was
linked in the press and in statements by GOM officials to a
Spanish intelligence operative who was declared Persona Non
Grata on March 6 after El Khiari's arrest and left the
country. Media sources reported that the operative provided
funds to El Khiari for "undefined activities."


13. (C) Another anti-corruption activist, Hassan Barhoun was
arrested on February 26, after he circulated a petition
signed by 60 people condemning corruption and raising
questions about authorities' complicity in the escape of a
convicted drug baron in Tetouan. A local prosecutor
mentioned by name in the petition opened the case against
Barhoun and prosecuted him. An Embassy contact in Tetouan
said he did not want to discuss the case over the telephone.
On March 6, the court sentenced Barhoun to six months in jail
and levied a 5,000 dirham (USD 600) fine for "circulating
false news" after a one-day hearing. During the trial,
Barhoun's lawyers withdrew from the case, protesting their
inability to present an adequate defense as a result of court
interference.

--------------
...And Some Bright Points
--------------


14. (C) Despite the El Khiari and Barhoun cases, the GOM has
taken some significant steps in the anti-corruption field.
In late January, authorities in the northern city of Nador
arrested 98 people for involvement in a drug ring. Seventy
of the arrestees were government officials, over two dozen of
them members of the security services. The media lauded the
arrests, saying they marked the beginning of a break with
past practices. In January, the GOM arrested over 100
officials around the country for corruption, malfeasance or
abuse of office. The arrests capped a year-long audit by the
MOI's inspector-general and the National Court of Accounts
(Government Accountability Office equivalent). Among the
casualties of the sweep was Boubker Belkoura, the
PJD-affiliated Mayor of Meknes. Although the PJD claimed the
GOM was settling scores by targeting Belkoura, noting that
the offenses with which he was charged were relatively minor
in comparison to other individuals, he had been under a cloud
for allegations of mismanagement for over a year.


15. (C) Despite the negative examples cited above, overall
public debate in Morocco remains vigorous and generally
unhindered; and often includes discussions of royal foibles.
All of the issues mentioned in this message have received
extensive coverage in the media, a large portion of which was
critical of government actions in these cases. On January
24, the national council of the opposition political party
Union of Popular Socialist Forces (USFP) launched a major
initiative calling for a "national debate on reform." The
party called for a review of the constitution, including an
examination of ways to reduce the prerogatives of the King.
According to media sources, the USFP also called for a
"reinforcing of the power of Parliament and (elected)
government." Also in January, independent French-language
weekly La Gazette du Maroc published an article about
prospects for judicial reform in Morocco, entitled, "Why
don't Moroccans have confidence in their judiciary?" Public
and vocal protests against government policies still occur
regularly and frequently around the country and in front of
Parliament. With few notable exceptions, they are allowed to
proceed unhindered, although they are sometimes, and with
increasing frequency, disrupted with force. Despite the
seemingly nascent campaign against homosexuals, activists
have had free access to media and venues in which to make
their opinions known.

--------------
Next Steps
--------------


16. (C) EmbOffs will continue to engage the GOM on the above
issues in individual conversations and through our formal
Human Rights Dialogue with the government. We will also
continue our contacts with NGOs and civil society. In
addition to the suggested talking points in Ref I, we
recommend the Department make the following comments when
feasible in discussions with GOM officials in Washington in
the immediate future:

Shi,a Issue:

-- We have noted with concern the sudden campaign of pressure
on Morocco's Shi,a minority.

-- We are hearing reports of people being called into police
stations to be questioned on the basis of their Shi,ite
beliefs. If this is true, it is disturbing. If it is not
true, we recommend you take swift action to correct the
public record and avoid inflaming tensions.

-- Morocco has consistently been praised in our annual
International Religious Freedom Report and by many other
countries for its religious tolerance and openness. Recent
events jeopardize that hard-won and well deserved reputation.

-- Muslims of all types benefit from the same guarantees as
all other religions in the Human Rights Conventions signed by
the Government of Morocco.

-- We strongly encourage the Government of Morocco to refrain
from linking its political disagreements with Iran to
unrelated religious issues in a way that sets a dangerous and
uncharacteristic precedent.

Western Sahara:

-- We are deeply concerned about the increased reports of
abuse in Western Sahara early this year.

-- We encourage you to sustain the positive momentum in the
territory, recognized in our most recent human rights report,
in order to maintain Morocco's reputation for reform and to
promote a broader resolution to the conflict.

-- As discussed in our Human Rights Dialogue with your
Government, we will be required to name abusers in the 2009
Country Report on Human Rights Practices if action is not
taken.

Anti-Corruption Activists:

-- We also note with concern the recent arrests of activists
who have been outspoken in their criticism of corruption
among officials. Such arrests run counter to the government
of Morocco's own laudable recent efforts to combat corruption
and may have a chilling effect on free speech and legitimate
activism.

--------------
Comment
--------------


17. (C) Although Morocco continues its forward momentum in
the area of reform, the recent campaign against Shi,a is
troubling. For almost its entire history, the GOM and Palace
have been very careful to separate politics from religion
when seeking to build national consensus around controversial
issues, knowing full well the dangers inherent in rousing
populations around religious or ethnic lines. This new
strategy could backfire on the GOM, or be used to more tragic
ends in other circumstances. It sets a dangerous and
somewhat baffling precedent. It is possible that the Palace
is attempting to get out ahead of religious conservatives in
advance of the June local elections, as lawyer Arehmouch
said, but if so, the Palace is playing a dangerous game. End
Comment.


*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
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*****************************************

Jackson